Pickup device



July 13, 1943 N. R. KRAUSE PICK-UP DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Filed July 17, 1939 July 13, 1943. N. R. KRAUSE PICK-UP DEVICE Filed July 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. N ma/1 Krause amm fiwwz/ ATTORNEY July 13, 1943- N. 'R. KRAUSE PICK-UP DEVICE Filed July 17, 1939 s sheets-sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented July 13, 1943 rrcxur nsvrcn Norman R. Krause, Racine, Wia, asslgnor to J. I.

Case Company, Racine, Wia, a corporation Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,832

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to pick-ups and an object of the invention is to generally improve the construction and operation of devices of this class. More particularly an object of the invention is to provide an improved pick-up which is applicable to a sickle mechanism such for example as that of a combination harvester thresher.

A further object is to provide such a mechanism which may be attached to the cutter bar of such a machine without removing any of the guards or the sickle.

A further object is to simplify the construction of such apparatus and materially reduce the weight thereof.

A further object is to utilize the sickle to assist in clearing the pick-up.

A further object is to provide an improved type of guard for the pick-up so shaped as to be cleared by the pick-up fingers, and further objects are to provide improved means for attaching a pick-up to a sickle mechanism; means for driving the pick-up in the correct direction; improved construction of a pick-up cylinder and other objects and advantages which will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in place on a harvester platform with parts-broken away to show interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of certain mechanism indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the harvester with the pick-up in place showing the driving means arranged for actuating the latter.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the same driving means arranged for driving the reel of the harvester when the pick-up is removed.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of certain mechanism indicated in Fig. 2.

As seen in Fig. 1 the device is shown as applied to a combine although it is equally applicable to a binder or other similar mechanism in which the crop is to be deposited on a conveyor or the like. The present machine has a header mechanism generally designated as -l including a cutter bar generally designated as 2 and an auger 3 for collecting the cut material and conveying it to a raddle or other suitable conveyor 4 (Fig. 5) by which it is transmitted to the threshing mechanism, which is not shown since it forms no part of the present invention. Other conveying mechanism is contemplated as equivalent.

The pick-up mechanism is generally designated as 5 and comprisea'as more particularly shown in Fig. 2, a rotary cylinder generally designated as 6 having a plurality of pick-up fingers 'I-I projecting from the cylinder and in the present instance inclined backwardly with relation to the direction of rotation of the cylinder, although other positions of the fingers may be desirable under certain conditions, and the invention is not to be taken as limited to such inclination of the fingers, or in fact in any manner except as defined by the claims.'

Cylinder 6 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 as the machine carrying the pick-up is advanced to the left, material in a windrow being raised by the fingers and. carried over the cylinder as suggested. At about point 8 any material in contact with the cylinder encounters a slotted stripper plate generally designated as 9, but actually comprising a series of small plates as will appear, which is so curved as to define with the fingers substantially or somewhat more than a right angle on the advancing side, of the fingers at all points during the passage of the fingers through the plate, the latter approaching the cylinder closely at point 8 and gradually receding therefrom in the direction of movement of the fingers so that the fingers disappear beneath the plate at about the point ID.

This disposition of the plate gently urges material along the length of the fingers toward and oii the ends thereof without any tendency toward catching or pinching material'between the plate and fingers due to the movement of the fingers.

Stripper plate 9 terminates substantially directly above and so as to define a lower terminal clearance space Ill above cutter bar 2 so that any material which may be crowded downwardly by the teeth past the point lllwill escape from the 0 slots in to the space above, and encounter the cutter mechanism and be reduced to relatively short lengths which will drop harmlessly to the ground. It should be understood that this function of the apparatus is in the nature of an emergency expedient, and that no significant amount of material passes through the cutter in this way.

The utility of this function becomes apparent when a long weed or vine or the like happens to follow one of the fingers downwardly through one of the slots in plate 9. When in prior constructions such a weed would normally wind itself about the cylinder and eventually clog the machine, in the present instance it would be cut up and discharged harmlessly to the ground.

Returning to a consideration of the structural details of the illustrative embodiment, cutter bar 2 comprises an angle iron l2 fixed with a frame element l3 forming a part of the auger trough generally designated as l4 and carrying a series of points or guards |6-| 6 (see also Fig. 1) Each guard includes a point portion l6, a shank portion l1 and a guide portion l6 extending backwardly over the sickle or cutting element generally designated as |9. Guards I6 are fixed with angle iron or bar |2 as by bolts 26-26, Fig. 3, each bolt having a nut 2| for clamping the guard forcibly against angle iron 12, a lockwasher 22 or the like being interposed if desired.

At intervals along the length of bar l2 a guard I6 is provided with a longer bolt 23, Fig. 3, for assisting in readily attaching the pick-up assembly by nuts 24, still longer bolts 26-26 being used at the ends of the cutter bar for further supporting the pick-up unit.

Considering first the stripper plate 9, this unit comprises a plurality of relatively narrow plates 26-26 suitably curved and supported from beneath on brackets 21-21 in the present instance composed of channel section material, fixed with plates 26 as by rivets or the like 28-28 and extending downwardly and then curved backwardly to be attached beneath the cutter bar. Brackets 21 have openings 29 through which above mentioned points l6 of guards l6 extend, the weight of the plates and brackets being thus carried largely on the sickle guards. Most of brackets 21 after turning rearwardly are fixed as by welding, a rivet 29, Fig. 7, or the like, with an angle iron 30 extending substantially the length of the cutter bar beneath the guards i6, all the brackets extending through apertures as 3| in the angle iron.

At suitable intervals across the cutter bar one of the brackets 21 is made to extend further rearwardly than the rest and has 'a slot 33 in which bolts 23 are disposed when bracket 21 is applied to the cutter bar. When the parts are placed in position above mentioned nut 24 is screwed up against the underside of bracket 21 and clamps the bracket into. forcible contact with above mentioned nut 2|, a suitable lockwasher or the like being interposed if desired. Through the interconnection of the brackets by means of angle iron 36 all of the brackets are positively held in place on the points |6 by the action of nuts 24. Loosening of the several nuts 24 will accordingly permit removal as a unit of stripper plate 9.

Pickup drum 6 is carried, as will appear presently, in brackets generally designated as 36 and 31 constituting part of above mentioned supporting frame Bracket 36 includes an angle iron 36 connected as by a fish-plate 39 and bolts 46, 4| and 42 with an angle iron 43 forming part of above mentioned auger trough l4. Angle iron 36 is further supported by a bracket 44,Fig.3, having an upper attaching portion 46 through suitable apertures of which extend above mentioned long bolts 26, nuts 46-46 clamping portion 46 securely against one of bracket portions 21 and a spool 41 or the like interposed between 'portion 46 and one of shank portions l1. Bracket 44 also has a portion 46 extending beneath angle iron 36 and fixed thereto as by bolt 46 and nut 66, washers 6| being interposed if desired to obtain an adjustment of the position of angle iron 36. A similar construction is utilized in connection with bracket 31 and need not be further described.

Bracket 36 has a shoe element 62 fixed in any suitable manner as by rivets 63, Fig. 1, with the forward portion thereof both the angle iron and the shoe curving upwardly as shown to permit easy sliding movement over the ground, although it is contemplated that shoe 62 may be omitted and bracket 36 proportioned so as to clear the ground if desired, the pick-up, due to its light weight being readily supported entirely from the header. A similar shoe 64 is carried in the same manner by above mentioned bracket 31, but this may also be omitted within the contemplation of r the invention.

For carrying cylinder 6 a plate 66 is fixed with angle iron 36 as by rivets 66-66, Fig. 2, and extends upwardly to carry a bearing generally designated as 61, Fig. 1, the plate being reinforced in the present instance by means of an angle iron 66 of circular formation surrounding the end of the cylinder and having a depending portion 69 fastened to above mentioned angle iron 36 as by a rivet 66.

A shielding plate 6| is suitably fixed as by welding, riveting or the like with the outside of angle iron 38 or otherwise supported from auger trough l4, and has a rolled or bent portion 62 above drum 6 forming a finished upper edge for bracket 36 and serving to deflect any stray material either toward the drum or away from other working parts of the machine.

Bearing 61, as more particularly shown in Fig. 4, comprises an outer shell 63 carried in a reinforcing plate 64 fixed in any suitable manner, as for example by welding, with above mentioned plate 66, a series of rollers 66 within shell 63 serving to support for rotation a stub shaft 66 forming a part of drum 6. A cap 61 closes the outer end of shell 63 to prevent the escape of rollers 66 or the entrance of foreign material. Shell 63 includes a plurality of cars 68 having suitable openings for studs, cap screws or the like 69 fixed with reinforcing plate 64 for holding shell 63 in place in plate 64.

Cap screw 66 has a head 16 which is spaced slightly from ears 68 as indicated at 1| whereby to provide for a certain amount of floating" or freedom for movement of shell 63. Other suitable or well-known expedients may be utilized for this purpose within the contemplation of the invention. It is understood that there will be several cars such as 68 to prevent material displacement of the bearing.

To prevent end play in the cylinder 6 a collar of suitable or well-known form 12, Fig, 1, is fixed on stub shaft 66 as by a set screw 13, and bears against above mentioned cap 61.

A bearing generally designated as 14 supports the other end of cylndner 6, engaging a stub shaft 16, carried in a plate 16, supported from a plate 11 similar to above mentioned plate 66 and connected to an angle iron 16 forming a part of above mentioned bracket 31. A collar 19 fixed with stub shaft 16 as by a set screw 66 bears against bearing 14 and prevents end play in cylinder 6 in the opposite direction from collar 12. Shifting of these collars provides an endwise adjustment of cylinder 6 to properly locate fingers 1 in relation to the slots in stripper plate 6. The construction of bearing 14 is substantially identical with that of bearing 61 and need not be further described.

Shaft 16 is connected with a sprocket 6| through which it and cylnder 6 are driven. For this purpose shaft 16 has a keyway 82 in which is seated a key 63 also engaging a keyway 84 in a sleeve 86 which may be loosely engagedwith the shaft. Sleeve 86 is fixed in a suitable manner, as for example by welding, with a sleeve 86 which in turn is fixed for example in similar manner with a hollow shaft 61 extending to and welded or otherwise suitably fixed to a shaft portion 88 engaged in a bearing generally designated as 89 and carrying above mentioned sprocket 8|. Bearing 89 is carried by a bracket generally designated as 98 and may be mounted in a manner similar to above-mentioned bearings 51 and I4 and need not be further described.

The whole structure of devices of this class being very flexible, the floating provided by the relatively loose mounting of the bearings and the connection accorded by the loose fit of sleeve 88 on shaft I5 prevents binding in any of the .working parts due to flexing of the supporting means.

An angle iron 9| is shaped to encircle the opposite end of cylinder 8 from angle iron 58 and for a similar purpose. A flange 92 supports a shielding plate or housing 93 encircling sleeve 88 and its associated parts to prevent catching of straw and the like on the rotating elements. Shield 93 extends between plate 11 and a divider or the like generally designated as 94, shaft 81 passing through the divider and being enclosed in a tubular housing 95 extending to bearing 89.

Sprocket 8I includes an overload release or jump clutch generally designated as 98, serving to permit the sprocket to continue to rotate in the event that drum 8 becomes entangled or is otherwise prevented from rotating.

Jump clutch 98 includes a pressure plate 91 fixed with shaft 88 as by a hub 98 and a nut 99. a pin or the like I88 passing through the hub and shaft if desired. Sprocket 8| is rotatably mounted on hub 98 and pressed against plate 91 by a plurality of bolts as I8I, passing through the sprocket and a housing I82 and having nuts as I83 outside the housing. Within housing I82 is located a pressure plate I84 urged against plate 91 by a plurality of springs as I85 disposed for convenience about bolts I8I and compressed between the end portion I88 of housing I82 and pressure plate I84. The length of these springs is so chosen that the degree of compression thereof is substantially correct, upon assembly of the parts, when housing I82 has been forced by nuts I83 into contact with sprocket 8I. The load at which the jump clutch will yield is therefore predetermined by the proportions of the parts and misadjustment is impossible.

A pressure plate I84 is connected as by interengaging lugs I81 and I88 with sprocket 8|, above mentioned plate 9'! being small enough so that the sprocket and pressure plate I84, together with bolts I8I, may rotate about plate 91. Lugs I81 and I88 permit relative axial movement of pressure plate I84 and plate 91 without disengagement of plate I84 from sprocket 8 I. Plate 91 and pressure plate I84 or sprocket 8| if preferred, may have interengaging serrations or be otherwise arranged to engage each other yieldingly due to the pressure of springs I85, the whole providing a positive driving connection to shaft 88 except in the event that an overload is applied to the sprocket. 7

Other suitable or Well-known types of overload protecting devices may be substituted at this point within the contemplation of the invention.

Bracket 98 comprises an angle iron I89 (see also Fig. 5) fixed with a portion II8 of augertrough I4 as by bolts or the like III and has a plate I I 2 extending upwardly and carrying above mentioned bearing 89, an angle iron, brace or the like II3 connecting with plate I I2 to assist in supporting the bearing. Brace II 3 is connected as by bolts II4 with a vertical element II8 connected with auger trough I4 and serving in part as a support for a reel as will appear.

Drum 8, as particularly shown In Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cage-like frame having end plates H8 and II! welded or otherwise suitably fixed with stub shafts 88 and I8, shaft 88 in the present instance having an upset portion II8 on which plate H8 is fastened, and a head portion H9 for assisting in preventing displacement of the plate. Shaft 18 is similarly formed having an upset portion I28 engaged with plate II I.

Plates H8 and III are connected by tubular or other suitable elements I2I, I22 and I23 fixed for example by bolts I24, I28 and I28 with reinforcing rings I21 and I29 welded or otherwise suitably fixed respectively with plates H8 and III as for example at I29, I38 and I3I.

Other specific arrangements for fastening the elements I2I, etc., to plates H8 and II! are contemplated as equivalent.

Rings I21 and I28 are enclosed by a cylindrical housing or casing I32, one-or more additional reinforcing rings as I33 being interposed if desired and preferably although not necessarily anchored to elements I22, etc., as by bolts I34.

Slots I35I35 are provided in the surface of coiled, preferably although not necessarily about the element at I39 and also at I48. Coils I39 and I48 terminate in straight portions extending through slots I35I35 and constituting .above mentioned fingers 1-1.

Yielding of the fingers is thus regularly provided for by flexing of the coils I39 and I48, and slots I35 are made long enough so that fingers I may have freedom of movement in either direction peripherally of drum 8. In this manner impacts of the fingers with the ends of the slots, upon release of the fingers from material being picked up, is prevented, which avoids shock loads and fatigue in the metal of the fingers.

The numerous pairs of fingers being alike, it will be unnecessary to describe more than one.

Cutter bar 2 includes a sickle I4I comprising a bar I42 carrying a plurality of cutter portions I43-I43 arranged to cooperate in suitable or well-known manner with above mentioned sickle guards I5. Bar I H is connected as by a suitable pivot I44 with a link I45, the link being pivoted as by a pin or the like I48 to the arm I41 of a bell crank I48. Bell crank I48 is pivoted on a stud or the like I49 fixed with a frame portion I 58 constituting part of auger trough I4 and it has an arm I5I pivoted as by a pin I82 to a pitman I53 actuated in suitable or well-known manner not shown.

The drive for drum 8 may be effected in any suitable manner, but in the present instance, inasmuch as the reel normally on the harvester portion of the combine is not used while the pick-up is in operation, this drive is taken from the mechanism already on the combine for driving the reel. Thus, as seen in Fig. 6, a reel shaft I54, when the reel is in use, is supported in suitable bearings as I55 from forwardly extending arms or members as I58 carried by above mentioned member H5 and an element I51 formin part of auger trough I4.

Shaft I54 carries a relatively large sprocket, pulley, wheel or the like I58 driven from an idler I59 Journaled on a stud or the like I60 carried by a portion of the auger trough through a chain or flexible element I6I, element I6I passing over and being in part supported by an idler I62 Journaled on a stud I63 suitably supported from the auger trough. Element I6I also passes over an idler or tightener I64 Journaled on a stud I65 movable in a slot I66 of a member I61 constituting part of the auger trough. Stud I65 may be clamped in slot I66 in order to obtain the correct tensioning or adjustment of flexible element "II, or it may be resiliently urged in a tightening direction to automatically maintain the tension in the chain within the contemplation of the invention. Large adjustments in member I. as for example to provide for changes in position of shaft I54 may be accommodated by clamping stud I63 in any one of a series or holes I 66I68 in a member I66 constituting part of the auger trough.

Idler I59 is driven from an idler I10 through a flexible element I1I engaging a sprocket or the like I12 carried on a shaft I13 which may conveniently be the auger shaft or axis. Element III is also engaged with a sprocket or the like I14 on a shaft I15 journaled in auger trough I4, and an idler or tightener I16 journaled on a stud I11 engaged in a slot I18 in an element I19 also forming part of auger trough I4. Stud I11 may be arranged to be clamped in various locations in slot I18 of a member I19 forming part of auger trough I4 for properly tensioning flexible element I1I.

Shaft I15 also has a sprocket or the like I00 engaged by a chain or other flexible element IBI actuated in any suitable manner not shown from some operative part of the machine. Actuation of sprocket I80 drives shaft I15, sprocket I14, element I1I, idlers I10 and I59, and through element I6I, sprocket I56 and reel shaft I54, the directions of rotation being as indicated,

Drum 6, as seen in Fig. 5, must rotate in the opposite direction to that of reel shaft I54, and to accomplish this the same sprockets and flexible elements are suitably and readily rearranged. Thus flexible element I1I is arranged to pass under instead of over sprocket I10, and over instead of under tightener I16, thus effecting the opposite rotation from that indicated in Fig. 6. Sprocket I59 actuates the same chain or flexible element I6I which passes only over tightener I64,

and about above mentioned sprocket 8|. It will be noted that this results in opposite rotation of sprocket N from that of above mentioned sprocket I56.

The operation of the device is thought to be clear from the above description. Sufllcient to say, when it is desired to pick up material from a windrow, 'or otherwise, with a combination arranged to pass under idler I16 and over idler I16. Flexible element I6I is then applied to member I59 so as to pass over idler I64 and about driving wheel 8| as shown in Fig. 5. Rotation of auger shaft I13 then results in clockwise rotation of drum 6, which, of course, is opposite to the desired rotation of reel shaft I56 under ordinary conditions.

Sickle I is not disturbed and continues to operate as above described to assist in clearing the drum in the event that any lengthy material tends to wind about it.

The fingers 1 pick up the material and raise it over the drum but are effectively stripped without any tendency toward packing due to the continuous large angle between the fingers 1 and the stripper plates 26.

The fingers retire between plates 26 quite promptly after the plates encounter the incoming material so that the material is not retarded in its passage in the direction urged by the auger by reason of continuing engagement of the fingers. The clearance between the lower edges of stripper plates 26 and wheel I assists in avoiding clogging since it renders itimpossible for any material to wrap about the stripper plates or lodge in the slots between the plates, following material tending to urge such wrapping material into the said clearance or to force such packed material out of the slots and into the clearance where it will be Immediately attacked harvester thresher, the header portion of the and disintegrated by the sickle or passed on to the auger.

Fingers 1 are free to vibrate within slots I35 to avoid any tendency toward breaking them against the extremities of the slots. Flexibility and freedom of all the parts are provided by the floating engagement of bearings 51, I4 and 89 in the respective brackets 36, 31 and 90. Flexibility in the drive is provided by the loose joint at 82.

Clogging of the pickup cylinder is extremely unlikely, but in the event that an obstruction to the rotation of drum 6 is encountered, drive wheel 8I may continue to rotate without damage to the parts owing to the slipping of jump clutch 96.

The whole construction is materially lighter, simpler, and less subject to clogging and other difllculties than prior pick-up constructions.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a combination harvester-thresher the combination of a header, a sickle structure having a moving cutting element, a pick-up unit, and means for attaching the pick-up unit to the header, said means being adapted to support the pick-up in position to cooperate with the sickle, the parts being arranged to so locate the pick-up near enough to the sickle so that material caught on the pick-up and tending to wind thereon will be carried into and cut by the sickle for clearing the pick-up.

2. In a combination harvester-thresher a header including a sickle and a plurality of guard fingers, a pick-up device including a frame, a plurality of supports attached to said frame and having openings therein enga'geable when said supports are moved rearwardly with guard fingers of said header for supporting the pick-up, and means on said frame attached to said header at a point rearwardly of and below said supports and adapted for preventing forward displacemerit of said supports from said fingers and for further supporting the pick-up.

3. In a pick-up for a combination harvesterthresher a drum including a plurality of elements forming a cage including longitudinal elements fixed with the cage against rotation except with the cage, a plurality of spring fingers carried by the elements, and a cylindrical casing fixed with and enclosing the cage and having slots through which the fingers project for contacting the material to be picked up.

4. In a pick-up a drum including a plurality of longitudinal elements fixed with the drum against rotation and forming a cage, a plurality of spring fingers carried by the elements, a cylindrical casing fixed with and enclosing the cage and having slots through which the fingers project, said slots being of greater length than the springing movement of the fingers under the infiuence of the material being picked up.

5. In a pick-up a drum comprising a driving shaft, a spacer element on the shaft, a plurality of longitudinal elements fixed with the spacer against rotation except with said spacer and arranged to define the elements of a cylinder, a

second spacer fixed with the longitudinal elements, a casing fixed with the spacers and a shaft fixed in the second spacer and forming a continuation of the driving shaft.

6. In a pick-up for a combination harvesterthresher a drum including a plurality of rows of pick-up fingers and arranged to be mounted on a header having a sickle and guard fingers, and a plurality of stripper plates supported between said rows of pick-up fingers in position to cover the guard fingers, said stripper plates being spaced to provide slots for the passage of the fingers and said plates leading toward said sickle so as to direct said slots toward the sickle so that material carried by the fingers and tending to wind thereon will be carried thereby into the sickle.

7. In a pick-up for a combine having a header including a sickle and a plurality of sickle guards, a pick-up including a stripper plate assembly comprising a portion engaged with and supported on said guards, and a portion extending beneath said guards and engaged with said headerat points spaced from said guards for assisting in so supporting said stripper plate.

8. In a pick-up for a combine having a header including a sickle, a drum including a plurality of rows of pick-up fingers and mounted on the header, a plurality of stripper plates supported between the rows of pick-up fingers and constituted to define a lower terminal clearance space adjacent said sickle, said plates defining therebetween slots for the passage of the fingers and which slots open into said terminal clearance space and are directed substantially toward said sickle so that material catching in said slots will be caused by said fingers to traverse said slots and terminate clear of said slots in said terminal clearance space and in position to be cut by said sickle.

9. In a. combine having a header including a sickle and a plurality of guards, a pick-up including a stripper plate having a portion engaged with said guards, for supporting said stripper plate.

10. In a pick-up (or fibrous material, the combination of a header, an auger supported at the rearward portion of the header and adapted to receive material along the length thereof and to convey it in the direction of its length, a pickup associated with the header and extending lengthwise thereof, said pick-up including a drum having pick-up fingers extending outwardly therefrom for engaging said fibrous material and propelling it over the drum and onto said header upon rotation of said drum, and means for separating said material from said fingers at the forward portion of said header whereby to be spaced substantially from the.point of engagement of said auger with said material, so that said material may clear said fingers before changing its direction from the rearward movement caused by the fingers to the transverse movement caused by said auger.

11. In a pickup the combination of a rotatable drum, a plurality of spaced pick-up fingers extending from the drum and secured thereto so as to maintain a substantially fixed position relatively to the drum during rotation thereof, and a stationary slotted stripper plate extending from a region adjacent the drum in a curve of gradually increasing radius away from the drum, the slots in said plate being disposed for the passage of said fingers and said curve being so chosen as to define with said fingers, an angle larger than an acute angle on the advancing side of the fingers at substantially all points during the passage of the fingers through said plate.

12. In a harvester thresher the combination of a header, a sickle structure on the header, a pick-up unit attached to the header in advance of the sickle and having a plurality of pick-up teeth adapted to revolve about an axis in advance of the sickle, said unit being supported in a position such that said revolvable teeth pass in close proximity to the moving sickle whereby material caught on the pick-up and tending to Wind thereon will .be carried into and cut by the sickle for clearing the pick-up.

13. In a pick-up for a harvester having a sickle, the combination of a rotatable drum supported on the harvester, a plurality of spaced pick-up fingers extending outwardly from the drum and inclined backwardly relatively to the direction of rotation of the drum, said fingers being secured to the drum so as to maintain a substantially fixed position relatively thereto during rotation thereof, and a stationary slotted stripper plate supported from the harvester and extending from a region adjacent the drum in a gradually decreasing curve away from the drum and toward the sickle, the slots in said plate being positioned for the passage of said fingers during rotation of the drum, and the curvature of said stripper plate decreasing at a rate sufiiciently v gradual so that the angle on the advancing side of the fingers is larger than an acute angle at substantially all points during the passage of the fingers through said plate.

14. In a pick-upior a harvester having avester and extending from a region adjacent the drum away from the drum and toward the sickle, the slots in said plate being positioned tor the passage or said fingers during rotation of the drum NORMAN R. KRAUSE. 

